Ohio State and Indiana will be doing something you don't see every day in the world of college football. Not only do both teams open their 2017 season on Thursday night, but they'll be doing so against one another in a Big Ten game on opening weekend.
That's not how things typically happen in the Big Ten!
Let's go over everything you need to know about this solar eclipse of a football game.
Viewing information
Date: Thursday, Aug. 31 | Time: 8 p.m. ET
Location: Memorial Stadium -- Bloomington, Indiana
TV: ESPN | Live stream: Watch ESPN
Storylines
Indiana: At this time last year, Tom Allen was preparing to coach his first game as Indiana's defensive coordinator. He took on the task of improving a defense that, year in and year out, had proven to be one of the worst in the Big Ten. Allen did an excellent job turning the unit around quickly.
Now he enters 2017 as the team's head coach after Kevin Wilson's unceremonious resignation. This leads to more questions, as Indiana's identity was built on its offense under Wilson, and that's not likely to be the case under Allen. I mean, going from Kevin Wilson calling plays for your offense to Mike DeBord (Indiana's new OC) is like selling your Lamborghini because a new mini-van caught your eye. There's going to be an adjustment period.
Ohio State: Speaking of former Indiana head coach Kevin Wilson, guess where he ended up. That's right, Mr. Wilson is now the offensive coordinator in Columbus, and his first game with the Buckeyes will be against his former school. Still, even if that's an interesting storyline for this game, Ohio State has much bigger goals for 2017 than simply helping Wilson seek some revenge.
As is usually the case, the Buckeyes enter the 2017 season looking to win a Big Ten title and a national championship. The last time we saw them, they were getting embarrassed by Clemson in the Fiesta Bowl. This is a team that will be out to prove that it's to be taken seriously, and with games against Indiana and Oklahoma in the first two weeks, it will have the chance to do just that.
Prediction
While the craziest of crazy things tend to happen in the first week of the college football season, I have a hard time imagining this game ending in anything other than an Ohio State victory. Yes, Indiana's defense has improved, but it was solid last year and still gave up 38 points to the Buckeyes. Maybe the Buckeyes are held to less in this game, but even if that's the case, I don't imagine this Indiana offense has what it takes to keep up with them on the scoreboard unless Ohio State gets loose and free with the football. That being said, I don't expect this game to be an absolute rout or anything. Pick: Indiana +21 (Ohio State 31, Indiana 14)
Who are the pros picking? Visit SportsLine to see which college football teams Vegas pros are hammering on opening weekend, plus see which side of Florida-Michigan is getting all the action.
